Lena Fedchenko, born in 1987 in Yartsevo, a small town in the far Western region of Russia, relocated to the suburbs of Moscow at the age of 17 and later to the city itself at the age of 22. She graduated from Dubna International University in 2010 with a Sociology degree. After working in the pharmaceutical and advertising industries for a while, she began her tattooing career in 2014, starting with an apprenticeship at the regarded Moscow studio Banana Tattoo. While there, she trained in applying ink to fruit and offering tattoos to gain practice. Her style has been centered around floral compositions, including orchids and daffodils, and she has used color since the beginning.
When asked about her move to New York City, Lena Fedchenko responds, “I did a lot for my career in Moscow. I worked in places I loved, with colleagues I appreciated, and I had my own studio for three years and put my vision and experience into it.” She eventually closed the business because she desired to be challenged with new goals, and as she explains, “New York was that goal!” Now part of the tattooing team at Atelier Eva, a high-end space in Brooklyn, Fedchenko splits her time between the Eastern United States and Mexico.
Above: Lena Fedchenko’s tattoos are both refined and elegant.
A portrait of the tattooer who is inspired to be living and working in New York City.
In recent years, you relocated to New York City; what do you like about this place?
New York has a lot of things that can change and boost your career and life. People in the tattoo and art industries are more open to cooperating than people in Moscow. In New York, you have this feeling of community and neighborhood. I love the idea of New York as a great social experiment where all cultures live, cooperate, and integrate. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this great experiment. I live between Mexico City and New York. I met my partner in Mexico City and was touched by an atmosphere I’ve never seen anywhere else (and I have extensive travel experience). So my life has always been an adventure, as you can see.
A solitary blossom inked in fine-line beauty.
You are a permanent tattoo artist at New York’s Atelier Eva. Describe the studio environment and what clients may anticipate from you during a session.
I love Atelier Eva’s aesthetic space; I have everything I need for my productive work. Some customers mentioned that they are more like in the spa, not in the tattoo studio—it’s a fascinating and lovely description. And there is a lot of greenery. (I love plants!) My clients can expect a beautiful combination of their ideas and my vision, and I hope we are both satisfied with the result. Also, I can be an excellent “partner” for talking, but I balance talk and the working process to not lose quality and not increase the session time.
A draping flow of purple and blue blooms adorn the shoulder.
New York City’s situation deteriorated significantly during the pandemic. Will the city improve and revive in time?
I do think so. People are returning to the city and worldwide, and new places have started opening: cafes, galleries, and shops. Usually, it’s a sign that the crisis is behind us for now.
Fruit and flora watercolor painting on paper.
In a former interview, you stated, “I liked doing small-scale projects in the spirit of Korean artists.” Please explain what you mean.
Besides floral compositions, I am attracted to doing small, detailed, and clean pieces that have become popular thanks to Korean tattoo artists.
Flowering on the skin for eternity—a tattoo that has been healed.
Flowers and plants have a timeless quality. How do you reference plants through real-life ones, books, or other sources?
It’s a very true statement. I love flowers and plants because you can never say, “Oh, it is not fashionable anymore.” They are timeless and have had symbolic meaning for humans for thousands of years. The first archaic art in Africa was about animals and plants. I have a big photo collection of different flowers that I have collected and organized over time. In the past, I used real-life flowers as references and brought them to the studio. I have a lot of botanical books that allow me to analyze the structure of flowers and the different plants.
Blank epidermis is decorated with a fragrant daffodil.
You have made many oil and watercolor compositions. Do you still traditionally paint a tattoo sketch before applying it to the skin?
I sometimes do freehand and use my iPad to create the composition. A finished full-color watercolor design takes much more time than making a tattoo, and for me, it makes no sense to make just a very schematic watercolor sketch instead of a whole image. I’m still a tattoo artist more than a watercolor artist. So, I’ll work in a way that is more effective for my tattoo process.
A close-up of Fedchenko’s appreciation of traditional media.
According to you, what distinguishes your work?
I don’t like symmetry in my compositions, I want the plants to look like they are growing wild.
Wild flora wander along the arm and hand.
What needles do you use for your fine-line tattoos?
I use a variety of needles. My favorites are 3 RL 0,25, 1 RL 0,35, and 9 SE MN.
This appears to be a tattoo of a natural grass flower.
What are some of your hobbies?
I love yoga, and traveling has been my main hobby for many years. Watching movies and playing PlayStation video games can take up my free time. I love Fortnite and Red Dead Redemption II. I do these activities very early in the morning or late in the evening before sleep. I enjoy reading. I’m also studying Spanish. I love to have plants at home and spend my day searching for new ones, repotting, and caring for existing ones.
Lena Fedchenko in her tranquil spot on a bridge in New York.
Lots of activities; what else do people not know about you?
I love science fiction; one of my favorite movies is “Alien” (1979). I’m collecting the edition of Magic: the Gathering Cards and the Lord of the Rings, so I’m a geek in some way. I can ride a city bike in New York in an evening dress and high heels. I love Mexican and Asian food. I love cooking at home when I have inspiration and energy, which is quite often.
Photos © Lena Fedchenko
